Arthur's Heroes

In this first episode of Arthur’s Heroes 2025, our amazing host Jess joined us once more, to talk to Luke. Diagnosed aged 11, Luke is an inspirational figure who has transformed his arthritis diagnosis into a motivational tool - from Juvenile Arthritis to Channel Swimming Dreams. With a focus on sleep, nutrition, physio and non-impact sports, Luke's journey from crutches to kilometers includes com...

In this 17th episode Jess talks to our first international guest.. Sarah is a music student and trumpeter from Canada. They discuss the challenge of being a musician who is diagnosed with arthritis and how Sarah showed the resilience to continue even when it looked like it would be impossible to carry on playing her beloved jazz trumpet. They also discuss her experience of being a student during t...

In this 16th episode of Arthur’s Heroes Jess meets Peter who has blown away the stereotype of a person with arthritis by having a successful career racing motor cycles in national level competitions. Peter started riding at the age of 16 and despite numerous setbacks, including major accidents and a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, has turned his love of racing into a career. They discuss the...

In this 15th episode of Arthur’s Heroes Jess meets Lucy to discuss the challenges and pleasures of being a new parent who has been diagnosed with arthritis. Lucy already had two children when she received her diagnosis and had a very busy life working part-time as well as bringing up her children. When Lucy found out, very unexpectedly, that she was expecting her third child she realised that she...

In this 14th episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets Jamie who has shown great resilience since his diagnosis and channelled it into a force for good for the community. He has worked towards helping arthritis sufferers develop a more positive mindset by setting up Yoga for AS. This organisation helps people who have been diagnosed with arthritis to not only increase their physical flexibility, but...

In this 13th episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets Ellen , whose latest Instagram project @flareupandcumming offers the chronic illness community a platform to explore sex and intimacy . As a YouTuber and blogger, Ellen has shared her life as a young adult with psoriatic arthritis, alopecia areata and uveitis for 10 years. It’s given her a remarkable ability to embrace her body’s differences and...

In this 12th episode of Arthur's Heroes, Jess talks to Kate, founder of the Wren Project , which provides free one-to-one listening support to people newly diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. Despite still coming to terms with her own diagnoses - including RA and Lupus, Kate's relentless commitment to making the world a better place through human connection is inspirational. Driven in part by her...

In this 11th episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets Jack, a 24-year-old blogger, poet and former competitive trampolinist, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis aged 19. Jack recently blogged for Arthur’s Place about his participation in a drug trial which changed his life dramatically for the better, but which ended abruptly when the pandemic hit, leaving him despondent and despairing. Ja...

Episode 10 – Molly In this tenth episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets self-described “crafter, nerd and adrenaline junkie” Molly, who was diagnosed with JIA aged 13. Molly’s pursuits include bungee jumping and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain. “I like to try to prove people wrong in life,” she says. “Anything that people think someone with arthritis wouldn’t,...

In Episode 9, host Jess discovers 25-year-old English teacher Zoë’s secret to managing a high-pressure career, alongside fibromyalgia and joint hypermobility syndrome. From what and when to tell your boss, to asking for support, Zoë talks about how she handles those tricky situations that inevitably crop up when you combine a chronic illness and a demanding job. For tips on coping at work or caree...

In Episode 8, host Jess meets Sophie, Jenny, Hannah and Vicky, creators of live events, videos, articles, real life stories and social content for Arthur’s Place, helping us to reach more young people more often. Sophie and Vicky share their own experiences of life with an arthritis diagnosis, and together the group talks about the power of storytelling and how new ways of connecting people can br...

In Episode 7, host Jess meets Jen, Michelle and Emma - who between them have over 70 years’ experience of life with arthritis - at the start of a brand new chapter for all of them. Members of Arthur’s Place Social, Jen, Michelle and Emma recently answered our call for new talent to join the Arthur’s Place team as we strive to help more young people with arthritis, more often. Listen to their stori...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. In this sixth episode, Jess talks t...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. In this fifth episode, Jess chats t...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. In this third episode, Jess chats t...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. In this third episode, Jess chats t...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. In Episode 2, Jess chats to Niamh,...

In this episode Jess talks to Andrea McBride, the rheumatology nurse who founded Arthur’s Place, the website and online community for young people with arthritis. They discuss what inspired Andrea to create Arthur’s Place, how the community has grown, and how it supports young people with arthritis all around the world. They also talk about Codeword Pineapple , a campaign started by Jess to make i...

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis. This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses. For more information about Arthur’s...